Andrew goes down hill all the way to lift first gravity trophy

THE inaugural gravity racing event took place at Brooklands Museum on Sunday when teams of young drivers armed with sophisticated machines attempted to set the fastest time down a 500-metre course — powered only by gravity.

A total of 11 well-prepared teams entered the event and after steering and brake tests they were towed up Test Hill for practice runs. At 2pm the racing started in earnest with each vehicle completing five runs — Graham Appleyard using his Land Rover to pull the cars up the hill to the starting line each time. The fastest time of the day was awarded to driver Andrew Lloyd in a streamlined Lola car, entered by the AT Kearney Group. Andrew covered the 500-metre course in one minute 11.8 seconds. The best-engineered car award went to Audi. The cup, awarded in memory of Norman ‘Spud’ Boorer, was presented by the president of the 1st West Byfleet scout group, Neville Ledsome. Norman Boorer had been the scout group’s president for many years as well as having a close association with Brooklands Museum since 1932. Finally £100 was presented to James Oakley, of Nemesis Racing, to “further the driving career of a school entrant”. It is planned to make Brooklands the home for gravity racing events and to encourage schools and colleges to build and participate.